Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Trial Results 1971, M L. Poole

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

This report summarizes data for the following trials:

Trial 1. Rape varieties x time of seeding - Mt Barker R.S.

Trial 2. Rape varieties x time of seeding - Gibson

Trial 3. Rape varieties x time of seeding - Badgingarra R.S.

Trial 4. Rape harvesting trial-moisture content - Mt. Barker R.S.

Trial 5. Time of seeding x rates of seeding safflower

Trial 6. Time of seeding x rates of seeding sunflower

Trial 7. Depth control drill trial on rape.

Trial 8. Method of seeding trial on rape.

Trial 9. Sandblast trial - EDRS - Failed.

Trial 10. Rape varieties x …

Grain Sorghum In The Ord Valley : Three Crops A Year?, P J. May

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

High temperatures and ample irrigation water allow grain sorghum to be grown throughout the year on the Ord River Irrigation Area, and observations in 1969-70 indicated that it may be possible in this area to produce three crops in one year from one planting, by ratoon cropping.

This article describes the technique and discusses its possibilities on the Ord.

The sorghum midge, one of the worst pests of sorghum, could well make ratoon cropping impossible, but the midge has not yet been seen in this area.

Testing Grain Crops, H M. Fisher

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

TODAY'S competitive markets for crop products stress the need for greater awareness of buyers' requirements and more detailed knowledge about our ability to supply them.

Crop varieties and their performance in different environments are important aspects of production potential.

New Varieties Could Extend The Peach Canning Season, S R J Newton

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE peach canning industry in Western Australia at present has only a limited period of operation, coinciding with the harvest time of the major variety, Golden Queen.

New canning peach varieties tested at Stoneville Research Station could be used to extend the harvest period of canning peaches beyond that of the present standard variety, Golden Queen.

This would have obvious advantages for growers and a canning industry.

The South African variety Keimoes was the most promising canning peach tested. Tests on other varieties are continuing.

Control Of Water Resources In W.A, T C. Calder

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Use of underground and surface water is controlled so that the supplies are available to the general benefit of all domestic, industrial and agricultural users in a particular area.

Water is a valuable resource and its contamination and wastage must be avoided. This article outlines the provisions of the Rights in Water Act which is designed to protect water supplies from undue exploitation, contamination and wastage.

Tree Establishment In The Wheatbelt, F Batini

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Although most of the Forests Department's activity has centred around the State Forests in the higher rainfall areas, the Department has, for many years, encouraged the planting and conservation of trees throughout the farming areas.

List Of Experimental Programmes 1970 - 1971, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

L.T. Jones, Vines and vegetables. J.E.L. Cripps, Fruit tree management. R.N. Glencross, Nutrition of pastures and cereals in higher rainfall areas. M.D. Carroll, Fertility changes mineral deficiencies. D.L. Chatel, Soil Microbiology. C.M. Francis, Agronomy and adaptation of lupins. A.E. Oakley, Radioisotopes studies. J.W. Gartrell, Trace element nutrition of cereals and pastures. M.G. Mason, Nitrogen nutrition of cereals. D.A. Nicholas, Evaluation of perennial and annual pasture cultivars in higher rainfall areas. M.L. Poole, Agronomy of crops in high rainfall areas, oilseed and other new crops. D. Tennant, Soil-plant water relations and root growth of cereals. G.H. Walton Evaluation of pasture cultivars …

Superphosphate Deficiency Raises Pasture Oestrogens, H G. Neil, T. Marshall

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A recent field experiment on established pastures at Esperance Downs Research Station has demonstrated a relationship between superphosphate application, pasture oestrogens and oestrogenic response in sheep.

Results of the experiment indicate that on phosphate deficient soils carrying oestrogenic clovers, the levels of oestrogenic materials in the pasture are increased if superphosphate applications are below those recommended for healthy pasture growth.

Copper Requirements For The South-Eastern Wheatbelt, D J. Gilbey, K. D. Greathead, J. W. Gartrell

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

FARM experience and the results of five years intensive research have shown copper deficiency to be widespread in the south-eastern wheatbelt.

On many areas of the south-eastern wheatbelt, copper deficiency is likely to restrict wheat yields.

Likelihood Of Drought Years In South-Western Australia : How Often Can Droughts Such As That Of 1969 Be Expected In Western Australia's Farming Areas?, Eugene Adsil Fitzpatrick

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Because of the serious consequences of drought to individual farmers and to Western Australia's economy, it is worth making an early appraisal of the 1969 rainfall conditions that led to the State's most recent drought in an attempt to estimate how often such seasons might be expected in the agricultural areas.

Results Of Field Experiments 1970, M D. Carroll

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

1. 70M17 The effects of Cultivation on Soil Nitrogen and Wheat Production 2. 69N11 and 69ES30 Soil Nitrogen Build-up under Various Legumes at Different Plant Densities 3. 7ON021 (R.N. Glencross) Rates of Copper and Zinc on Daliak Sub. Clover.

1970 Results Of Field Experiments, A C. Devitt

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Please find enclosed a summary of results obtained from a range of field trials. These include a study of some techniques to replace undesirable cultivars of subterranean clover; the competitive ability of some subterranean clovers; the evaluation of the sub clover cultivars, Dinninup 3, Midland B,some members of subspeciesYanninicum, the medic cultivars Cyfield and Tornafield; and the preliminary results from an exotic pasture species introduction trial at Shark Bay. In most cases complete results have been or will be circulated in report form.

Experimental Results 1970-71 - Phosphorus-Sulphur Maintenance Trials., R N. Glencross

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Medium Rainfall Zone Trials Eleven replications of the basic rate of P, rate of SO4-S and S experiments were maintained during 1970 in the 20in - 30 in. rainfall zone. Soil types examined were the very gravelly soils (5 reps, 4 sites), sands or loamy sands over gravel or clay (3 sites) and sandplain soils (3 reps, 2 sites). In all cases except one, fertiliser history was not reliable, but in every case well over one ton of super had been applied. over a period of over 15 years.

Anhydrous Ammonia, M G. Mason

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Anhydrous ammonia, as the name infers, is pure ammonia, It is kept in a liquid form under pressure and must therefore be stored in special vessels. When pressure is released it changes to gaseous form. Anhydrous ammonia is the most concentrated form of nitrogen fertiliser available. It has 82% nitrogen compared to 46% for urea, the most concentrated solid form of nitrogen fertilisers.

Trials carried out were:

1965 - 1967 Wongan Hills Research station (3)

1967 - Badgingarra (1)

1968 - Moulyinning (1)

1968 - North Lake Grace (1)

1969 - Westonia (1)

Merredin (1)

Tammin. (1)

Soil Microbiology, D E. Chatel

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER INOCULATION EXPERIMENTS Badgingarra and Newdegate Comparisons between Rhizobium trifolii strain WU290 and possible replacement strains were continued. The work was conducted for the following reasons 1. The need for information on "back-up" strains particularly since the inoculant manufacturers had experienced difficulty in producing high-count peat cultures of WU290. 2. Strain CC2480a had proved very satisfactory in the Eastern States. Although it did not show up to advantage under our conditions in 1968,further testing was indicated. 3. The need for information on inoculation needs on old land.

Dry Season In The Eastern And North-Eastern Wheatbelt, George Henry Burvill

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The drought of 1969 ended an 11-year run of good seasons in the eastern and north-eastern wheatbelt. Good years usually have above average rainfall; wheat yields and pasture growth are greatly reduced if rains are well below average. Eighty years records show that half the years must be expected to be below average and about one-third could be well below. This area produces one-third of the State's wheat and has 9 per cent, of its sheep.

Soil And Plant Water Studies On Wheat Summary Of Results 1969/70, D Tennant

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Location

Trials were carried out within a radius of 5 miles of

Tammin on the properties of Messrs P. York and B. Nottage.

Sites represented deep sand, sandy loam, sand/clay and grey

clay soil types.

The Agricultural Potential Of Owingup Swamp. 1. Soil Survey Of Owingup Swamp. 2. Comparison Of Owingup And Grasmere Swamps, L T. Jones, C V. Malcolm, James P. Fallon, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Technical Bulletins

The two swamps, Owingup and Grasmere are practically identical with regard to soil conditions. Grasmere swamp however has been cleared and used for agriculture for some 60 years while Owingup swamp is as yet unalientated. Soils on both swamps consist of mainly organic diatomaceous clay. Findings of the survey indicate that some 2000 acres at Owingup swamp would be suitable for vegetable growing following clearing and draining.

List Of Experiment Programmes 1969 -1970, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

T. Albertsen, maintenance phosphorus and sulphur, continuous cropping with NPS, sulphur status in high rainfall areas. J. Cripps, (jointly with B Luren), experiments at Stoneville research station and on growers’ properties. A.C. Devitt, replacement of legume pasture, evaluation of Midland b, competitive ability of some sub clovers. Evaluation of Dinninup 3. Evaluation of Tornafield medic 1967. Evaluation of some medics 1968. Evaluation of Northam A crossbreds. Effect of phosphate on growth of medics 1968. Effect of Urea on growth of subclover on new land. Effect of Urea on established legume pastures. Pasture species establishment and persistence. Evaluation of pasture species …

Shed Lambing In The Esperance Environment, T Marshall, F. F. Dixon

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Neonatal lamb mortality is often high in Western Australia and losses as high as 33 per cent, have been recorded on private properties in the Esperance area. Surveys by Western Australian Department of Agriculture officers have indicated that more than threequarters of such lamb deaths occur after birth. About half these deaths result from the combined effects of weather and mismothering.

Work in Victoria has indicated that lamb mortality may be reduced by intensive lambing systems such as shedding and this trial was established to see if shedding could reduce lamb mortality in the Esperance environment.

Lupins In Western Australia. 2. Cultivation Methods, John Sylvester Gladstones

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

While lupins are by and large plants of lighter and less fertile soils, important differences exist among them in their soil preferences.

There may also be some differences in climatic requirements. Present knowledge of these differences is summarized in the Table below.

West Midlands Development : Soil Map Used To Group Similar Soils Into Land Use Classes, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Selection of areas for initial treatment is basic to economic development of blocks in the West Midlands.

Obviously, it is best to develop large areas of the most productive "land use classes" first in order to obtain the highest and earliest returns on capital.

Wheatbelt Trace Element Nutrition 1969, J W. Gartrell

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

1. Rates of Copper and Zinc on Wheat. 2. Rates and Sources of Zinc on Wheat: 3..Zinc Spray Treatments on Wheat.

1969 Results Of Field Experiments, Tony Albertsen

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Determination of rates of P and S required for maintenance of optimum pasture growth on old land, using individually grazed plots.

Linseed Production Survey : Esperance, 1968, R J. Guyton

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A SURVEY conducted after the 1967 linseed season found that although most farmers understood the requirements of linseed growing there were several crop failures. These were associated with time of planting, soil type and insect control measures.

The Esperance district office of the Department of Agriculture conducted a second survey during December, 1968 and January, 1969

How Important Is Sulphur For Pastures?, R N. Glencross, W. J. Cox

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

With the introduction of low sulphur compound and concentrated fertilisers, a new look is required at the sulphur status of West Australian soils, and the sulphur requirement of pasture.

In this article the functions of sulphur, deficiency symptoms and potential problem soils are described.

Current recommendations and plans for future research work are outlined.

Water Storage Has Not Kept Pace With Stock Numbers : South Stirling Survey Finding, A L. Prout

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

RESULTS of a survey on water storage capacity in the South Stirlings area indicate that farm water storage has not kept pace with increased clearing and stock numbers.

This has resulted in many farmers requesting advice on water conservation projects following two consecutive years of low rainfall runoff.

Wildflowers Of The Stirling Range, Alexander S. George

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

TWO hundred miles south-east of Perth, the Stirling Range rises abruptly from the surrounding plain. About forty miles long, it is a line of semi-isolated hills, rather than a continuous block.

There are many intriguing plants of diverse colour and form. Well over 400 species are known from the Range. A number of these are found no-where else, and some are restricted to one mountain.

Flora And Fauna Conservation : A Plea To Landholders, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

MUCH of the recent discussion on conservation has centred around the importance of wild flower reserves and the necessity for protecting one of the State's most important tourist attractions.

Although less important to visitors than the flowers, many of our wild animals hold equal interest for nature lovers and scientists, and they also need protection.

Pasture Establishment In The Wheatbelt, M L. Poole

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The value of legume based wheatbelt pastures is so great that considerable care is warranted during their establishment. Without such care patchy establishment or even complete failure is likely to occur.

IN THE WHEATBELT too many farmers still put less effort into their seeding of pasture species than their seeding of crops.

This may be because both compete for the farmer's time in the busy seeding period and it is the cereal crop which possesses the obvious cash value.

However, the total value of a good pasture has to be assessed over a period of several years because of its …